Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) - ASEAN has become one of the most successful regionalorganisations in the world, with a host of tangible accomplishments on manyfronts, Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith said in a message sent recently to theLao people on the occasion of the 53rd founding anniversary of thebloc and the 23rd anniversary of Laos’ membership.
In the message, published on the Vientiane Times onAugust 10, the FM said one of the most remarkable achievements in the last 53years was the establishment of the ASEAN Community at the end of 2015. Hedescribed ASEAN as a peaceful and stable region with significantaccomplishments in economic cooperation that has helped the bloc integrate intothe regional and global economy and contribute to promoting socio-economicdevelopment and improving people’s living standards.
ASEAN’s achievements have been widely recognised, inparticular its central role, leadership role and consensus, he went on.
In 2020, ASEAN and many regions worldwide areencountering a range of challenges posed by natural disasters and COVID-19, whichexert a huge impact on socio-economic development, political stability, andsecurity in the region and the world.
To cope with these challenges, ASEAN has strengthenedcooperation based on the “Cohesive and Responsive” spirit proposed by Vietnam asASEAN Chair 2020, which has been seen through virtual forums between leaders ofASEAN members and between ASEAN and dialogue partners, to discuss anti-pandemicsolutions and address the consequences post-pandemic.
The FM highlighted that ASEAN successfully hosted the36th ASEAN Summit and relevant meetings on COVID-19 response viavideo conferencing on June 26.
ASEAN and dialogue partners have agreed to enhancecooperation in community healthcare, specifically preventing COVID-19, studyingand developing vaccines against the virus, and setting up the ASEAN Fund forCOVID-19 response and medical equipment reserves for emergency cases, in addition to resumingsocio-economic activities, links, and supply and investment chains, while addressingunemployment, reducing poverty, and developing human resources, he added.
TheLao top diplomat also affirmed that ASEAN membership has helped enhance Laos’srole at regional and international forums./.
VNA
